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  #1  
Old 17-06-20, 16:21
Michael R. Michael R. is offline
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Default gunner handgrip MK-II/MK-II*

Does anyone have any detail on the original handgrip for the MK-II/MK-II* series?
Unlike the MK-I* that was a cast rubber-like compound with part numbers in the casting, the MK-II series appears to be a sewn leather cover.

Update: a member image brought forward from an earlier post. The carrier is a December, 1944 production month/year.
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FF44FFDD-F6B9-4977-A54D-00BB7055404E.jpeg   8E07F7A2-7778-45BF-96BE-2B29EAC9995A.jpeg  

Last edited by Michael R.; 18-06-20 at 03:04.
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  #2  
Old 17-06-20, 16:58
Mike Gurr Mike Gurr is offline
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My Canadian No2 MK II* (March 1944) which I believe still has all the original parts has black rubber moulded grips to these handles. They are marked FMCo. Sorry the pictures are not great but I can provide better close ups when next near the Carrier if required.
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Photo0172.jpg   Photo0174.jpg  
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1944 Matchless G3L
1944 No2 MK2* UC
10 CWT GS trailer
1944 BSA M20
Royal Enfield RE125 'Flying Flea'
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  #3  
Old 17-06-20, 18:20
Michael R. Michael R. is offline
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thanks Mike.

The parts book shows the MK-II* with an alternate part number to the MK-I* grips. The late production MK-II* in the museum in ( Norway?) pictured on MLU shows the later style. As your carrier is early, I wonder if there was a change over date. Assumptions bias with respect to originality without prejudice.
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82A238BD-02D2-42BF-A564-7E0CF5F03B9A.jpeg  

Last edited by Michael R.; 21-06-20 at 15:05.
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  #4  
Old 17-06-20, 20:10
Petr Brezina Petr Brezina is offline
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Just for reference, british Mk.II/IIIs had rolled paper on the steel pipe only.
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  #5  
Old 18-06-20, 01:13
Lynn Eades Lynn Eades is offline
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How long did that last Petr???
Is the leather / rubber thing a rubber shortage thing?
I have Army Council Instructions that ordered the return of erasers from worn out pencils, for re cycling.
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Carrier Armoured O.P. No1 Mk3 W. T84991
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  #6  
Old 18-06-20, 15:40
Petr Brezina Petr Brezina is offline
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Untill today I guess
Here is one pic for reference. Right one is original, left new copy.
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grip.jpg  
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  #7  
Old 18-06-20, 22:50
Lynn Eades Lynn Eades is offline
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Great detail. Thankyou Petr.
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Carrier Armoured O.P. No1 Mk3 W. T84991
Carrier Bren No2.Mk.I. NewZealand Railways. NZR.6.
Dodge WC55. 37mm Gun Motor Carriage M6
Jeep Mb #135668
So many questions....
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  #8  
Old 20-06-20, 20:00
Colin Alford Colin Alford is offline
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MichaelR,

If these images show the remains of a late Canadian handgrip then it appears that the construction is a leather wrap over a wood core.

On the pictured item, it appears that the metal ring is actually two pieces (an inner and outer ring) which may clamp the bottom edge of the leather.

The wood portion might be in two halves as there are two gaps in the remains which are 180 degrees apart.

Colin
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30B00C38-550D-4CEC-AE81-8E48BBB4ECCD.jpeg   FDA62168-1030-43F0-A50D-90F8C842B6C4.jpeg   53EA4F1C-68E3-44F5-804D-67677EFE80E3.jpeg  
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  #9  
Old 20-06-20, 20:23
Colin Alford Colin Alford is offline
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Upon further thought about the possibility of the wood being in two halves, maybe the wood was grooved to allow the leather seem to lay flush, and at the ferrule end ( smallest external diameter) this groove became a notch in the wood thereby explaining the apparent gap in the limited remains.
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  #10  
Old 21-06-20, 03:45
Michael R. Michael R. is offline
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Good stuff, thanks for the replies.

I may disassemble the complete one to discover how it was constructed.
One day we may find the factory drawings? Until then...
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  #11  
Old 27-06-20, 21:35
Mike Gurr Mike Gurr is offline
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Close up of the grab handle in my Carrier built March 1944
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Hand grip.jpg  
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1944 Matchless G3L
1944 No2 MK2* UC
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1944 BSA M20
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  #12  
Old 28-06-20, 07:23
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Ron Pier Ron Pier is offline
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Mike, is one of your rubbers easy to remove without damage? If so and you were prepared to lend me one, I could ask Jeff Hunter (The rubber man) to make me a pair.....or a small batch even.

I fashioned my current grips years ago from the wooden handles of an old pair of garden shears. Ron
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  #13  
Old 29-06-20, 11:48
Tom Millward Tom Millward is offline
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Hello Ron, if you’re going to make a batch, put me down for a pair for my Mk1*. I was going to use a pair of motor cycle grips, but if you’re looking to get some made that would be much better.
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  #14  
Old 29-06-20, 13:09
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Ron Pier Ron Pier is offline
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OK Tom. I'll send a pic of yours to Jeff and see what he says. Ron
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  #15  
Old 29-06-20, 17:00
Mike Gurr Mike Gurr is offline
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Ron, and anyone else interested. I am happy to loan a grip for the purposes of having copies moulded if I can get one off. Not sure if that will be easy of if they were moulded on to the metal and are stuck tight. I will be over at my Carrier again on Saturday and will see what I can do.
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1944 Matchless G3L
1944 No2 MK2* UC
10 CWT GS trailer
1944 BSA M20
Royal Enfield RE125 'Flying Flea'
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  #16  
Old 29-06-20, 23:13
Lynn Eades Lynn Eades is offline
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I have a MkI* left hand bracket which looks the same as yours. It is just plain steel tube, so I imagine a grip was just a push fit (rubber would be, like a bike) A rubber grip should be easy to remove, how ever 70 years changes all that. I image wood was glued. Glue plus 70 years =??? Leather has likely shrunk?? Paper=????
Good luck Mike.
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Carrier Armoured O.P. No1 Mk3 W. T84991
Carrier Bren No2.Mk.I. NewZealand Railways. NZR.6.
Dodge WC55. 37mm Gun Motor Carriage M6
Jeep Mb #135668
So many questions....
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  #17  
Old 30-06-20, 02:12
Michael R. Michael R. is offline
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I expect you will find they slip off readily.

Jordan Baker used to make copies, there are plenty out there.
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  #18  
Old 30-06-20, 03:15
Lynn Eades Lynn Eades is offline
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So, with regards to getting a run made, are we talking rubber ones for a MkI*?
If so, I'm a starter for a pair, Ron, Mike.
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Carrier Armoured O.P. No1 Mk3 W. T84991
Carrier Bren No2.Mk.I. NewZealand Railways. NZR.6.
Dodge WC55. 37mm Gun Motor Carriage M6
Jeep Mb #135668
So many questions....
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  #19  
Old 01-07-20, 14:28
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Ron Pier Ron Pier is offline
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Mine is a MK2* and I'm now not sure what I should have? Ron
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  #20  
Old 01-07-20, 17:33
Tom Millward Tom Millward is offline
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Hi Ron, You have the same Mk of Carrier as Mike Gurr (Mk2*), and his seems to have been fitted with the Rubber grips from the factory. So the Rubber grips should work for everybody if you are able to get some made.
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  #21  
Old 01-07-20, 18:46
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Ron Pier Ron Pier is offline
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Thanks Tom. But now my rubber guy has gone quiet/missing? It's very unlike him. I just hope he's safe. Ron
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  #22  
Old 06-07-20, 11:41
Mike Gurr Mike Gurr is offline
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Got the grip off safely this weekend and have sent pictures and dimensions to Hunter Eng and await a reply. Will update all as/when/if a response is forthcoming.
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1944 Matchless G3L
1944 No2 MK2* UC
10 CWT GS trailer
1944 BSA M20
Royal Enfield RE125 'Flying Flea'
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  #23  
Old 06-07-20, 13:27
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Ron Pier Ron Pier is offline
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Jeff emailed me the other day about my initial inquiry with pictures about this.

He's a bit log jammed with work due to far more email orders than normal, because of not seeing his customers at jumbles.

He said he probably won't be able to do anything till the winter. Ron
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  #24  
Old 06-07-20, 20:03
Mike Gurr Mike Gurr is offline
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Fair enough, at least I know I can get the grip off the handle in one piece now!
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1944 Matchless G3L
1944 No2 MK2* UC
10 CWT GS trailer
1944 BSA M20
Royal Enfield RE125 'Flying Flea'
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  #25  
Old 16-07-20, 19:46
Mike Gurr Mike Gurr is offline
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I have had a reply from Jeff Hunter with some costings. As Ron says he has a large back log so couldn't get to this till near the end of the year. I am happy to send him my grip and pay for the initial tooling and then to sell on pairs of grips at cost plus postage. They would work out at £40 pair plus the postage to where ever you are in the world. If I can get enough interest for 15 pairs that would allow me to break even. Please let me know on this post / by PM or email to register your interest. One thought is that my grips are '43 dated but I guess careful use of a hot knife could alter that for anyone with an earlier date vehicle or assume they were added later as replacements!
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1944 Matchless G3L
1944 No2 MK2* UC
10 CWT GS trailer
1944 BSA M20
Royal Enfield RE125 'Flying Flea'
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  #26  
Old 17-07-20, 00:30
Michael R. Michael R. is offline
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... good effort, good value !

I voted with my wallet.
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  #27  
Old 17-07-20, 06:34
Lynn Eades Lynn Eades is offline
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Mike i have sent an email regarding a pair. Thank you.
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Carrier Armoured O.P. No1 Mk3 W. T84991
Carrier Bren No2.Mk.I. NewZealand Railways. NZR.6.
Dodge WC55. 37mm Gun Motor Carriage M6
Jeep Mb #135668
So many questions....
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  #28  
Old 17-07-20, 07:33
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One pair for me Mike. I'll also confirm by email. Ron
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  #29  
Old 17-07-20, 21:42
Mike Gurr Mike Gurr is offline
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Thank you to those who have already replied. I so far have interest in 8 pairs after just one day so highly likely we will be able to go ahead. I have replied to individuals but just for everyones information Jeff Hunter is well known here in the UK for making rubber parts for vintage motorcycles, Ron and I have both seen his products and they are good quality. Once the tooling has been made I will be sent one free sample so I will be able to post pictures and give you my opinion on quality before I would expect anyone to make any payment.
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1944 Matchless G3L
1944 No2 MK2* UC
10 CWT GS trailer
1944 BSA M20
Royal Enfield RE125 'Flying Flea'
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  #30  
Old 17-07-20, 22:41
rob love rob love is offline
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I would be in for a pair.
I would suggest having extras made up, as there will be guys querying this thread for years to come. Virtually everybody with a carrier project needs a pair.
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